Greater London’s boundary has changed several times over the decades, meaning that the city boundary has absorbed a variety of locations. Now a suburb of Croydon, Kenley is the birthplace of Star Wars actor Peter Cushing.
The makers of the movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” are reportedly being sued for his image rights, after his image was resurrected for the 2016 film. Mr. Cushing passed away in 1994 from cancer.
He played Grand Moff Tarkin in the first Star Wars film, “A New Hope”, back in 1977. He was born in Kenley, which was then Surrey, in 1913.
The area is now surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt on three sides, and includes the open spaces of Kenley Common – 138 hectares – and Kenley Aerodrome. During the Second World War, RAF Kenley played an important role as a strategic airfield during the Battle of Britain, when the country resisted an attempted German invasion.
Links with the RAF go all the way back to its beginnings
In fact, Kenley’s links with the RAF date back to its beginnings in the First World War, as aircraft were assembled and tested there for squadrons in France.
Another notable landmark is All Saints Church. It was built in 1870-71 and was designed by James Fowler at a cost of £3.50. Historic Kenley says it was built of Kentish ragstone with an attractive interior of red and black brick, interspersed with white stone.
By 1904 the tower had three bells and a belfry installed at a cost of £88. At the same time, the organ was replaced. Riddlesdown Caves are also worth a visit. During World War II they were used as air raid shelters, and a company of optical instrument manufacturers use them today.
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